Fischer's denial cleared the way for closing arguments Friday by each side.

While making his motion, after jurors had gone home, defense attorney Lawrence Hopkins noted, "This entire case rises and falls" on the testimony of a prosecution witness who said he saw Franklin shoot James in the chest.

Hopkins also noted the witness gave different versions of what he saw on the evening of July 9, 2011. The man told police he saw Franklin firing from "near the street" but he testified the shooting happened in a parking lot behind a multi-family house near the intersection of Howard Avenue and Putnam Street.

Hopkins told Fischer the man's account of the parking lot shooting "conflicts with physical evidence." Hopkins pointed out that six shell casings were found in an alcove between two Howard Avenue homes.

"There was a trail of blood leading from the alcove to Putnam Street, where Mr. James was found," Hopkins added.

Hopkins also said the testimony by that key witness showed he "could not see what happened in that alcove. He had no line of sight."

"No reasonable juror could conclude that the state has proven guilt beyond a reasonable doubt on any count," Hopkins said.

Doyle cited testimony Franklin "had access to a pistol and was willing to use it in that area."

As for the shell casings, Doyle said there is no way to know how long they had been where they were found.

Addressing the first-degree robbery charge, Doyle noted the gold chain that James always wore was found off his neck on the ground and his cell phone was not recovered.

Doyle also said Franklin, now 22, showed "consciousness of guilt" by fleeing the New Haven area within four days of the shooting. He noted when Franklin was arrested Nov. 16, 2011 in Virginia, he had a false identification card.

As he denied the acquittal motion, Fischer said it's up to the jury to determine the credibility of the key witness.

The jury will deliberate on the charges of murder, felony murder and first-degree robbery. Fischer will rule on the counts of criminal possession of a pistol and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

Franklin's capture was described Thursday in testimony by Deputy James Kingman of the Stafford County Sheriff's Office in Virginia.

Kingman said he and other officers received a tip that Franklin, who was wanted for the James shooting, was driving in a Chevy Blazer with a female and was at a house close to Interstate 95, about 40 miles south of Washington, D.C.

After Kingman and another officer parked near the house in an unmarked surveillance van, they saw a car matching the Blazer's description approach them.